Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)

The Greenville Police Department's Crisis Intervention Team's goal is to help persons with serious mental disorders access medical treatment rather than placing them in the criminal justice system for illness - related behaviors. The CIT department coordinator is Captain Stacey L. Owens.

In 2010, the department recognized the need for officers to receive advanced training in dealing with persons suffering from mental illness. Law enforcement officers are often the first ones to respond to calls for service and in many cases, there is little known about who is involved or what has happened.

The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program is a community partnership of law enforcement, mental health professionals, mental health consumers and family member advocates. CIT's goal is to help persons with serious mental disorders access medical treatment rather than placing them in the criminal justice system for illness-related behaviors.

Officer Participation

Currently there are approximately 50 Greenville Police officers who have completed 40 hours of training in crisis intervention and learned the art of de-escalation. These officers are assigned to different divisions throughout the department and are available to respond to calls for service 24/7. These officers utilize specialized training to safely and effectively communicate with persons suffering from mental illness and ensure a safe outcome to a potentially volatile situation.